Mining machine with a roller cutter

ABSTRACT

A mining machine having a frame with a roller cutter projecting laterally therefrom and with a shield member on the frame in front of and behind the roller cutter. Each shield member is swingable from a retracted position parallel to the frame to a shielding position parallel to the axis of the roller cutter. Short links pivotally connect one side edge of each shield member to the frame and longer struts are connected between each shield member and the frame and a fluid motor is connected between each shield member and the frame to swing the shield members between the two operative positions thereof. The entire assembly of each shield member and its links and struts and fluid motor may be carried by a housing which is connected to the machine frame and which opens away from the machine frame and which is closed by the respective shield member when it is retracted.

United States Patent [72] lnventor Paul Kaisler Bochum, Germany [21] Appl. No. 851,196 (22] Filed Aug. 19, 1969 [45] Patented June 1, 1971 [73] Assignee Gebr Eickhoff Maschineniabrik und Eisengiesserei mbII. Bochum, Germany [32] Priority Aug. 22, 1968 [33] Germany [31] PI,758,861

[54] MINING MACHINE WITH A ROLLER CUTTER 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

52 0.5. CI 299 45 [51] Int. Cl ..E21c 27/24, E21c 35/20 [50] Field of Search 299/45, 67

[56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 1,195,698 7/1965 Germany 299/45 867,658 5/1961 Great Britain 299/45 1,165,270 9/1969 GreatBritain ABSTRACT: A mining machine having a frame with a roller cutter projecting laterally therefrom and with a shield member on the frame in front of and behind the roller cutter. Each shield member is swingable from a retracted position parallel to the frame to a shielding position parallel to the axis of the roller cutter. Short links pivotally connect one side edge of each shield member to the frame and longer struts are connected between each shield member and the frame and a fluid motor is connected between each shield member and the frame to swing the shield members between the two operative positions thereof. The entire assembly of each shield member and its links and struts and fluid motor may be carried by a housing which is connected to the machine frame and which opens away from the machine frame and which is closed by the respective shield member when it is retracted.

PATENTED JUN l |97l SHEET 1 [1F 3 INVENTOR. PAUL KAISLER mm um SHEET 2 BF 3 I INVENTOR. PAUL KH/S'LER PATENTED Jun 1197:

- SHEET 3 OF 3 INVENTOR. PH UL K A ISL E R MINING MACHINE WITH A ROLLER CUTTER The present invention relates to a mining machine with a roller cutter and a pivotable conveying shield (Raumblech) pivotable about a vertical axis. Mining machines with a roller cutter and a conveying shield located between the face of workings and the machine body are known. With these mining machines, the conveying shield is arranged directly behind the cutting roller which is adjustable as to height and during the mining operation extends in a direction transverse to the driving direction of the machine. By means of a rear strut supported by the machine body, the said shield is held in this position and is connected to the machine body so as to be pivotable about a vertical axis in order, if necessary, following the release of the strut it can be adjusted parallel to the direction of driving of the machine. The pivotal movement of the said shield may also be effected by a cylinder piston arrangement.

With cutting rollers operating in two directions, two shields are necessary. The respective shield behind the cutter in operation is pivoted out while the other shield is in pivoted-in position and is parallel to the driving direction of the mining machine. Such shield cuts off the space which has been cut free by the cutting roller and thereby improves the discharge of the cut ore or rock by the helical follower strips arranged on the circumference of the cutter roller. The said shield thus in cooperation' with the cutter cutting the ore or rock brings about that the mining field behind the cutting machine is cleared and after the passage of the machine is ready for receiving the next members of the long wall.

' The heretofore known and usually manually operable shields can be pivoted closely to the sidewall of the machine body, but to this end, it is necessary that in all instances the strut supporting the shield in its operative position has to be detached at one end and after the shield has been pivoted in has again to be connected. When the shield is actuated by a cylinder piston arrangement, the pressure cylinder on the rearward side of the shield prevents the shield from being closely pivoted to the machine body because the said pressure cylinder when occupying a position parallel to the driving direction of the machine cannot produce the necessary high moment for pivoting the said shield. Moreover, the said pressure cylinder which simultaneously also takes over the function of the supporting strut will, during the cutting operation, be located in an unprotected position in the work portion of the mining field so that it may be damaged by rock and breaking-off ore.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a drive for the shield by means of which the pivoting-out and pivoting-in operation can be effected mechanically.

It is another object of this invention so to mount the cylinder piston arrangement for carrying out the pivoting operation for said shield that the said cylinder piston arrangement will not be damaged by the cut rock and when in its operative position will be in a completely protected location.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an arrangement as set forth in the preceding paragraphs which will also protect the elements required for the power transfer during the pivoting of the shield, especially the bearings.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a roller cutting machine with the protective shields connected thereto.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the protective shield and its pivoting mechanism in the pivoted-out position of the shield.

FIG. 3 diagrammatically illustrates the course of movement of the shield during the pivoting-in and pivoting-out of the latter.

FIG. 4 is a cutout from FIG. 1 and illustrates on a larger scale than the latter those parts which journal and pivot the said shield with the shield in pivoted-out position.

FIG. 5 is an illustration similar to that of FIG. 4 but with the shield in its pivoted-in or effective position.

According to the present invention, the vertical pivot axis of the protective shield is not located at its end but in the vicinity thereof either in the shield itself or at a short extension in the vicinity of the shield and protruding therefrom. The pivot axis is rotatably journaled at the end of one or more horizontal plates or links the other end of which is mounted on the machine body for pivoting about a vertical axis. Instead of being mounted on the machine body itself, it may also be mounted on a gate rigidly connected to the machine body. The plates or links have a length which is only a fraction of the width of the protective shield. The cylinder piston arrangement for carrying out the pivoting operation is connected to the free end of an extension protruding toward the rear side from the said shield, said extension being located in the vicinity of the pivotable end. The protective shield is, on the other hand, pivotally journaled on the machine body for pivoting about a vertical axis and more specifically inwardly of the position which the said shield will occupy in its pivoted-in position, in other words, in its parallel position to the machine body. For further guiding the protective shield there are provided one or more struts preferably extending in a horizontal position, which struts are rotatable in the machine body preferably about the same vertical axis as the cylinder piston arrangement or about an axis in the vicinity thereof, whereas the other ends of said strut or struts are connected to the rear wall of the said shield at a greater spacing from its end to the vertical pivot axis. These struts preferably extend between horizontal reinforcing ribs which are mounted on the rear side of the shield and in which the struts are rotatably journaled.

Of the plates or links at the ends of which the vertical pivot shaft for the shield is journaled is preferably provided within the area of the upper edge of the shield, whereas, the other plate or link is provided within the area of the lower edge of the shield. The said plates or links are located at approximately the same level as the upper and lower struts. The cylinder piston arrangement is preferably provided at the level of the center of the shield.

The extension which protrudes from the shield toward the rear side comprises in a form-shaped manner the guiding end of the cylinder piston arrangement, which guiding end is provided with an eye. Those parts which serve for holding and pivoting the shield, such as the cylinder piston arrangement, the vertical pivot shaft for the shield, the rotatable plates or links, and the pivot bearings of the struts, are mounted in a housing with a rectangular cross section which is formed of a vertical base plate engaging the machine body and four walls, an upper wall, a lower wall and two lateral walls, said housing being at least partially closed by the shield moved into its parallel position. In such a housing there are located the parts of the cylinder piston arrangement, the rotatable plates or links and the various pivot bearings in such a position that they are relatively protected already when the shield is in its pivoted-out position. When the shield is in its pivoted-in position, the latter protects the individual parts which are mounted in the housing against damage by falling or breaking rocks and the like.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the mining machine according to the invention is generally designated with the reference numeral 1 and is movable on a long wall conveying means 2. By means of its cutting roller which is supported by the supporting arm 4 so as to be adjustable as to height, it is adapted to cut the seam 5. Two protective shields 6, 7 located on different sides of the cutting roller 3 improve the withdrawal of the raw ore or rock of the helical follower strips located on the circumference of the roller but not illustrated. That one of the shields 6, 7 which is located ahead of the cutting roller 3 is parallely pivoted toward the machine driving direction, whereas that one of the two shields 6, 7 which follows the cutting roller 3 is in pivoted-out position and occupies a position at a right angle to the machine driving direction. This last-mentioned shield closes off the free cut space between the face of the workings and the long wall conveying means behind the cutter 3 and sees to it that the mining field behind the roller cutting machine passing through will be .free from rocks.

The in-and-out pivoting movements of the respective shield 6, 7 which are necessary when changing the driving direction of the mining machine 1 is effected by means of a pressure cylinder 8 each and a piston rod 18 therein. By means of its rearward end, the cylinder rests on a vertical shaft 9 which may be associated either with the machine carriage, the machine body, or a special portal carriage 10. This pressure cylinder 8, which is parallel to the machine driving direction, has its piston rod 18 in engagement with extensions 11 of the shield 6, 7 at 19 and is adapted to pivot said shieid during its lifting movement about the vertical shaft 12. Two plates or links 14, 15, which are pivotable about a vertical shaft 13 mounted in the machine body, carry the shaft 12. Struts 16, 17, which are located approximately at the level of the said two plates or links l4, 15, have one end, by shaft 21, connected to pairs of rearward ribs of the shield 6, 7 and have their other end rest on the pivot shaft 9 of the pressure cylinder 8 or another vertical shaft on the machine body located in this area. The arrangement according to the invention furthermore comprises a rod 22 which in the vicinity of the pivot end is placed upon the shield 6, 7v This rod 22 is a flatiron rod and serves for holding the extensions 11 which in a fork-shaped manner extend around the eye at the end of the piston rod 18 and also serves for supporting the bolts 23 forming the pivot shaft 12 for the links or plates 14 and 15. Arranged at the lower end of said shields by means of special holding members 24 are drop plates 25. These plates 25 are intended to assure that also with an uneven floor of a scam, the cut-loose coal will be cleared up to the bottom. These plates 25 usually protrude forwardly beyond the shield and so to speak sweep up the coal.

For purposes of receiving the pivoted-in shield, there is provided the housing'(l' lG. 2) with its upper wall 26, its lower wall 27 and the two sidewalls 28.

FIG. 3 illustrates the course of movement of the pivotingout and pivoting-in shield. Depending on the direction in which the fluid pressure acts upon the pressure cylinder 8, the shield either occupies a position transverse or parallel to the machine driving direction. in this connection. the shield carries out a pivoting movement about the shaft 12 which pivoting movement is superimposed by a pivoting movement of the two extensions 14, 15 carrying the shaft 12. Said last mentioned pivoting movement is effected about the shaft 13. The pivoting movement proper of the shield is the resultant movement of the cooperation of pressure cylinder 8 and struts 16 and 17 inasmuch as these narrow the degree of freedom of the pivot shaft 12 of the shield and force the latter in view of the pressure of cyiinder 8 and in spite of the movement of the pivot shaft 12 to carry out the respective desired pivoting movement. The superimposed movement going back to the two plates or links l4, l5 merely serves to equalize the pivoting movement of the two rigid longitudinally nonchanging struts 16, 17, which pivoting movement is due to the actuation of cylinder 3, and to give said struts 16, 17 the possibility of occupying a position either parallel to the driving direction of the mining machine or in a transverse direction required for supporting the shield 6, 7.

it is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular showing in the drawings but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A miningmachine having a frame and a roller cutter projecting horizontally from one side of the frame, generally planar and vertically extending shield members on said frame in front of and behind said roller cutter and each shield member being adapted for seiective swinging, movement between a shielding position wherein it projects from said frame and. is substantially parallel to the axis of the roller cutter and a retracted position wherein it is retracted against said frame and is substantially at right angles to the axis of the roller cutter, link means for each shield member operativeiy pivotally connected at one end to said frame and at the other end to a respective shield member near one lateral edge of the shield member, an expansible fluid motor operatively pivotally connected at one end to said frame and at the other end to the respective shield member at a point thereon near but spaced from the connection of the respective links means with the said shield member, and strut means operatively pivotally connected at one end to said frame and at the other end to a respective shield member at a point spaced laterally from the connection of the respective fluid motor and link means to the shield member.

2. A mining machine according to claim 1, which includes a housing pertaining to each shield member, each housing having a vertical bottom wall engaging said frame, vertical end walls and horizontal top and bottom walls, said one ends of the said link means and strut means and expansible fluid motor pertaining to the respective shield member being pivoted to said housing, the pivotal connection of said link means and strut means and fluid motor pertaining to a respective shield member being located on that side of the shield member which faces said frame in retracted position of the shield member, each shield member in retracted position closing the open side of the respective housing.

3. A mining machine according to claim 2, in which the said link means for each shield member comprises a link at the top of the respective shield member and one at the bottom thereof.

4. A mining machine according to claim 3, in which the said strut means for each shield member comprises an upper strut near the top of the respective shield member and a lower strut near the bottom thereof.

5. A mining machine according to claim 3, in which said other end of the fluid motor for each shield member is pivoted thereto at about the vertical center of the respective shield member.

6. A mining rnachine according to claim 4, in which pairs of laterai reinforcing ribs are mounted on said shield members on the side which face away from said roller cutter in shielding position of the shield member and toward said frame in retracted position of the shield member, said ribs comprising a pair of ribs at each of two different levels, and each said strut means comprising a strut for the respective shield member having its said other end disposed between and pivoted to a respective pair of said ribs.

7. A mining machine according to claim 1, in which each shield member comprises a pair of vertically spaced extensions thereon on the side toward the respective fluid motor, said other end of the fluid motor being provided with an eye receivable between said extensions and pivoted thereto.

8. A mining machine according to claim 1, in which all of the pivotal connections at the opposite ends of said link means and said strut means and said fluid motors are vertical and are disposed close to a plane parallel to the respective shield member when the shield member is in retracted position and on the side of the shield member which faces said frame. 

1. A mining machine having a frame and a roller cutter projecting horizontally from one side of the frame, generally planar and vertically extending shield members on said frame in front of and behind said roller cutter and each shield member being adapted for selective swinging movement between a shielding position wherein it projects from said frame and is substantially parallel to the axis of the roller cutter and a retracted position wherein it is retracted against said frame and is substantially at right angles to the axis of the roller cutter, link means for each shield member operatively pivotally connected at one end to said frame and at the other end to a respective shield member near one lateral edge of the shield member, an expansible fluid motor operatively pivotally connected at one end to said frame and at the other end to the respective shield member at a point thereon near but spaced from the connection of the respective links means with the said shield member, and strut means operatively pivotally connected at one end to said frame and at the other end to a respective shield member at a point spaced laterally from the connection of the respective fluid motor and link means to the shield member.
 2. A mining machine according to claim 1, which includes a housing pertaining to each shield member, each housing having a vertical bottom wall engaging said frame, vertical end walls and horizontal top and bottom walls, said one ends of the said link means and strut means and expansible fluid motor pertaining to the respective shield member being pivoted to said housing, the pivotal connection of said link means and strut means and fluid motor pertaining to a respective shield member being located on that side of the shield member which faces said frame in retracted position of the shield member, each shield member in retracted position closing the open side of the respective housing.
 3. A mining machine according to claim 2, in which the said link means for each shield member comprises a link at the top of the respective shield member and one at the bottom thereof.
 4. A mining machine according to claim 3, in which the said strut means for each shield member comprises an upper strut near the top of the respective shield member and a lower strut near the bottom thereof.
 5. A mining machine according to claiM 3, in which said other end of the fluid motor for each shield member is pivoted thereto at about the vertical center of the respective shield member.
 6. A mining machine according to claim 4, in which pairs of lateral reinforcing ribs are mounted on said shield members on the side which face away from said roller cutter in shielding position of the shield member and toward said frame in retracted position of the shield member, said ribs comprising a pair of ribs at each of two different levels, and each said strut means comprising a strut for the respective shield member having its said other end disposed between and pivoted to a respective pair of said ribs.
 7. A mining machine according to claim 1, in which each shield member comprises a pair of vertically spaced extensions thereon on the side toward the respective fluid motor, said other end of the fluid motor being provided with an eye receivable between said extensions and pivoted thereto.
 8. A mining machine according to claim 1, in which all of the pivotal connections at the opposite ends of said link means and said strut means and said fluid motors are vertical and are disposed close to a plane parallel to the respective shield member when the shield member is in retracted position and on the side of the shield member which faces said frame. 